'My puppy saved my life': SUV rams into man's Tennessee jewelry store, which he had just left

The SUV crashed into The Jewelers on Thursday, Dec. 6, in Lebanon, Tenn.

A Tennessee man credited his newly adopted puppy with saving his life after an SUV smashed into his jewelry store this week.

Police said a 66-year-old man had a coughing fit and hit the accelerator instead of the brake pedal Thursday morning, sending his Ford Expedition speeding into the front of The Jewelers on West Main Street in Lebanon, Tenn. No one was seriously hurt, but the owner, Shawn Smith estimated that the crash caused tens of thousands of dollars of damage.

A witness, Tara Duncan of Lebanon, told The Wilson Post that the SUV flew right by her as she was entering her car to leave a store next door to The Jewelers.